This Hero Worked Through His Fear To Save A Dog In Pain

This is a story about a volunteer rescuer saving a hurt dog and a shelter giving the dog a second chance. Eldad from Hope for Paws was sent out to rescue a hurt pit bull that was in a lot of pain and was scared. Sadly, there are way too many stories like Yara's, where animals are abandoned, lost, or homeless and need help. There are about seventy million stray animals in America. You will read all about Yara and several other animals that were rescued and given another chance at life.
Meet Yara
Eldad Hagar from Hope for Paws received a call about a black pit bull that was limping near a highway on-ramp. He arrived and saw that the dog was in a lot of pain and scared, snarling and growling at him. Eldad stated that he was definitely a little scared during the rescue, but he used food to lure the dog out.

He could see that her leg was very badly broken and almost completely crushed and that she was obviously starving. He eventually was able to get Yara and get her back to the shelter, where they treated her and ultimately had to amputate her leg. Thankfully, Yara's story had a happy ending.
Hope For Paws
Hope for Paws raises awareness for abandoned animals, and they rescue animals in the L.A. area and beyond. They are working to end animal neglect, homelessness, and abuse.

The team of mostly volunteers rescues animals, provides veterinary care, and transfers the animals to partner adoption centers. They share their rescues on YouTube and Facebook, with their YouTube channel being the largest non-profit YouTube channel in the world.
Gaining Trust
The first step they take when rescuing animals is to try and gain their trust. Most of the animals are terrified, hurt, and in a lot of pain. They have usually lost their trust in people. The rescuer usually uses treats, food, and water to show the animal that they are only trying to help.

They slip a collar over their head and then try to get them in the kennel. Most of the time, there isn't any time to waste, as they need medical attention immediately.
Heading In The Right Direction
Yara started to slowly trust her rescuer, and they slowly made their way to the vehicle. She had to stop many times due to reluctance and exhaustion. She was suffering and had been through a lot.

Another volunteer arrived and helped get Yara into a cage for transport. It took a while, but she started to calm down and get used to their presence. It was obvious that she needed medical attention right away.
A Second Chance
Yara was brought to the vet, where she had surgery. Sadly, her leg was entirely crushed and had to be amputated. She was already feeling better not long after the surgery, with her mood improving.

When Eldad came in to see her, she nuzzled his hand. After she healed, she went into foster care through The Little Red Dog Inc. Her foster mom stated that she likes to jump and can be a handful.
The Little Red Dog Inc.
The Little Red Dog was founded in memory of a little red American Pit Bull Terrier who sadly didn't make it. He was brutally beaten to death by Michael Vick and his dogs just because she didn't want to fight. The organization fights for all dogs, regardless of color, size, breed, or anything else.

They help as many animals as they can, and their goal is to get them into loving homes. It is the adoption center that Yara was sent to, where she learned to be a happy dog again.
Become A Foster Parent
Fostering saves lives, and foster moms and dads are so desperately needed. However, it's not for the faint of heart because these dogs can be difficult and often need to be trained all over again.

It can also be the most rewarding thing you will ever do. These animals have so much love to give and just want to be loved back. The foster is an integral part of the puzzle, and everyone involved needs to be there for the dog.
Hudson And Lawrence
Hudson and Lawrence are two dogs that spent months living on the streets together. Hudson had lost one of his back legs, and the two were frightened. The female rescuer took the lead because they were even more scared of men. They got the dogs to a fenced-in yard where she could start to earn their trust with cheeseburgers. The dogs didn't like being trapped in the yard and would growl and snap at the rescuers if they got too close.

Lawrence accepted the help and calmly went into the travel crate, but they had to be tricky to get Hudson into it. Lawrence was calm right away at the shelter, but Hudson had a bad injury and was scared. Both dogs got a bath and a shave, with Hudson having surgery the next day to remove the remaining portion of his leg. They were able to find a foster home that both dogs could go to together and they both recovered beautifully.
Kitty Got Left Behind
Hope for Paws got another call about an abandoned home in the area with an abandoned dog left on the property. Eldad went to the property and found Kitty hiding in the backyard. She was scared and wouldn't come close to Eldad. He tried to earn her trust with food, but she got scared and ran into the street before coming back into the yard.

Eldad was able to section off the driveway corralling the tiny dog into a smaller area of the yard. He basically had to force her into the vehicle, but once she was able to roam freely in the truck, she started to calm down. She was brought in to be spayed, microchipped, and vaccinated before going to Tobie's Small Dog Rescue to find her forever home. She very quickly found her forever family and has been a little bundle of love and kisses.
Oxana
Another rescue involved a pit bull named Oxana. She was left outside in extreme heat but was found by a kind Samaritan who called Hope for Paws. The rescuers tried to lure Oxana onto a leash, but she was terrified. They gave her some food and were able to get her.

It wasn't long before she climbed into her rescuer's lap and was giving kisses. Once at the CARES Animal Hospital, she tried to befriend anyone she saw. She went to The Little Red Dog, where she was given all of the attention and love she deserved.
Pain Makes People And Dogs Do Crazy Things
Dogs are just like humans in that they feel pain and suffering just like we do. Dogs in pain may be their normal selves on good days but can be grumpy or aggressive when the pain is bad. So, a dog that is abandoned, frightened, and in pain can be dangerous.

They are not bad dogs, they just need medical attention and someone to show them love. Rescuing these dogs takes a little more effort and is a little scarier but can still have a great outcome.
July 4th Fireworks
Many dogs go missing on the 4th of July. Fireworks can be very loud and frightening for dogs and cause many of them to run out of fear. It is common for dogs to suffer from noise phobia and fireworks are usually a big trigger.

"It is a logical response if you think of it from the dog's perspective. They hear extremely loud noises that often make the ground vibrate and see bright flashing lights. They don't know it's a holiday or a celebration; often, they don't even know where the sound is coming from, so their desire to get away or hide is understandable." ----Kitty Block.
AdoptAPet.Com
Adopt a Pet is an organization that helps get homeless pets into homes. They help twenty-one thousand animal shelters, SPCAs, humane societies, pet rescue groups, and pet adoption agencies advertise their homeless pets to millions of adopters a month.

In addition, they provide useful and informative information on the human/companion animal relationship to help keep the pets healthy and in their forever homes.
The Animal Rescue Site
The Animal Rescue Site helps rescued animals and includes the Greatergood program. Greatergood was started in 1999 and is a program that people can donate through.

The main purpose of the Animal Rescue Site is to help raise money for organizations that help rescue animals. They have been the leaders in the global animal rescue effort for eighteen years.
Eldad Hagar
Eldad Hagar has been a volunteer for rescue organizations in the Los Angeles area for eight years. He tends to gravitate toward the most challenging rescues, and he quickly realizes that it takes a lot of money to care for these animals.

As a result, he decided to start his own rescue organization, and he named it Hope for Paws. His organization has grown over the years, and now they are one of the leading rescue organizations in the area.
Animal Rescues
Hope for Paws receives many calls every day from around the world to help rescue homeless, abandoned, and injured animals in dire situations. The team rescues hundreds of animals every year, and they even travel outside of the L.A. area if needed.

After rescuing an animal, Hope for Paws provides medical care to the animal and then finds appropriate partner shelters that are willing to accept the animal.
Veterinary Care
All of the rescued animals are taken to the veterinary clinic for evaluation, and treatment is necessary. The care that the animals receive may include rabies and health certificates, vaccines, deworming/parasite treatment, heartworm and FIV/FeLV tests, and spaying or neutering.

However, several of the rescued animals also need surgeries and long-term inpatient care. They want the animals as healthy as possible before sending them to a shelter so that they have the best chance of finding their forever homes.
Animal Shelters/Adoption Centers
Hope for Paws works with thirty-five partner organizations that will accept homeless or abandoned animals after being rescued. In addition, Hope for Paws provides grants to animal adoption centers for animals that require medical attention.

All of these efforts increase the chance of adoption and reduce the chance of euthanasia. The entire goal is to save the animal and find them their forever family and home.
Spay/Neuter Clinics
Another thing that Hope for Paws does is fund Spay and Neuter Clinics so that hundreds of animals can get fixed. This is an effort to reduce the animal overpopulation problem in Southern California and the whole world honestly.

In addition, the organization supports a spay and neuter program in Mexico, where there is a significant animal overpopulation problem that spreads across the southern border.
Who Will Take Care Of Your Pets When You Cannot?
Something that most people don't think about is who will take care of their furry family members if something happens to them. Hope for Paws has had several rescues where a dog is left in a home after the owner has passed away.

The dogs were starving, dehydrated, sad, and scared. They partner with an organization called FreeWill, which is a service that enables you to secure the future of your pets should something unexpected happen to you. Their service is one hundred percent free.
Making Roadside Rescues Safer
Roadside rescues happen often and are very dangerous for the animal and the rescuer. Hope for Paws makes sure that their rescuers are fully equipped to make dangerous rescues.

Many times, the rescuer has to get creative during rescues as these animals are often unrecognizable. Once rescued and at their shelters, they are happy and taken care of.
Hermione's Rescue
Hermione is another rescue that was in dire need. She had stepped on a cruel coyote trap and had been suffering for days. They sent a female rescuer out with a cheeseburger to lure Hermione out and to gain her trust.

Her rescue was a challenge, but they got her, and she received the medical treatment that she so desperately needed. She now has a new family that posts occasional updates about her new life and adventures. The rescue helped to raise awareness for animal rescue and animal cruelty.
Mama Bear
There was another rescue that took two days and a whole team. They were out in the desert trying to rescue a mama and her newborn puppies. It turns out that a homeless man had taken the dog into his tent so she wouldn't give birth in the dirt.

They were able to rescue the mama and her babies, and all were taken to get checked and received medical treatment. They were then sent to foster homes to be adopted.
A Nightmare Turns Out To Be A Dream Come True!
Eldad received an email from a girl that was suffering from a heart condition and explained that she would love to meet with them and help with a rescue if possible. Eldad found out that Hayley lived in New Jersey, and he got in contact with her mother.

He and another rescue member flew out to her and spent the day with her and her family. They learned that she was born in China and was an orphan who went through two open-heart surgeries and was adopted when she was three years old. They are still in contact today, and when Hayley feels well, she helps local organizations find homes for animals with her amazing photography.
McKenzie: A Hug Changed Everything
McKenzie was another scared dog that Hope for Paws rescued. She was so scared of touch and had taken refuge outside a maternity clinic, where she was just lying down, shaking in fear.

Slowly but surely, the rescuers were able to get her, and a hug changed everything. Now, she loves attention and all the hugs she can get. Her rescue video has been seen more than eleven million times.
Valentine's Day Gift
Hope for Paws did something special for Valentine's Day. It's where if you make a donation to their organization for the animals, you will be able to personalize and send a Valentine's Day message to someone very special.

A gift to Hope for Paws on Valentine's Day will express your love for animals and your Valentine, it will also help them continue rescuing and finding every abandoned animal a loving, forever home.
GivingTuesday
GivingTuesday is a global day of giving, celebrating the power of social media and collaboration. It's a fun way to give to the organization and help the animals, and the first five thousand dollars of donations will be matched.

There are several ways you can help, such as creating a Facebook fundraiser and sharing your favorite Hope for Paws rescue video.
Reasons To Adopt A Pet: You Will Save A Precious Life
There are so many reasons to adopt a pet from a shelter. The biggest reason is that you will save a precious life. Sadly, more than two million adoptable dogs and cats are euthanized all over the country.

When you adopt a pet from a shelter, you are reducing that number, and you are giving that animal a second chance at life. Pets adopted from a shelter turn out to be some of the most loving and sweet animals because they are grateful to have a loving family.
Reasons To Adopt A Pet: Adopting Creates Space In Shelters
Another great reason to adopt a pet from a shelter is that it creates space in shelters. Other animals can be rescued and taken care of at the shelter. Every year, overburdened animal shelters take in millions of stray, abused, and lost animals.

Shelters are often at full capacity, which also means you will have several pets to choose from. In addition, most shelters have websites that you can use to find your new furry family member.
Reasons To Adopt A Pet: Adopting An Animal Reduces The Influence Of Puppy Mills
Adopting an animal from a shelter also reduces the influence of puppy mills. Most people don't realize that when you buy a pet from a pet store or an individual, there is a very good chance that it is from a puppy mill.

Sadly, animals from puppy mills are usually housed in poor conditions and receive improper medical care, leaving them sick and behaviorally troubled. The more people that adopt a pet, the less money that is going to support puppy mills.
Reasons To Adopt A Pet: You Might Get A Trained Pet
Adopting a pet also means you might get an already trained pet. Most of the pets that end up at shelters are there because of a human problem such as a move, or a divorce, not because the animals did anything wrong.

Most of the animals are already trained in some areas and are used to living with families; it might just take them longer to warm up after being hurt.
Reasons To Adopt A Pet: You Will End Up Saving Money
You will usually end up saving money when adopting a pet as well. Rescued animals are typically spayed or neutered, given their vaccines, and are often microchipped. Meaning when you adopt, you won't have to pay for those things, like if you bought a puppy.

Medical care for animals can get very expensive. In addition, it is relatively inexpensive to adopt a pet from a shelter compared to pet stores or individuals.
Reasons To Adopt A Pet: Your New Pet Might Be Famous
Another reason to adopt is more of a fun reason. If you adopt a pet that has been rescued, it's likely that there is a video of the rescue online, making your new family member famous.

You can search the websites and find pictures and videos of all of the animals up for adoption. Hope for Paws features their adoption partners in every rescue video.
Meet Healthy Yara
Let's get back to precious Yara for a minute. Once healthy and out of pain, Yara quickly learned how to get around with three legs. In addition, she learned how to trust humans again and is able to just be a dog again.

She was up for adoption through The Little Red Dog Inc., and her foster mom stated that she is a handful, but in a good way as she is lively and is a happy dog. She doesn't seem to be slowed down at all by having only three legs.
Prejudice Against The American Pit Bull Terrier
Sadly, there is major discrimination against pit bulls. In fact, forty percent of the dogs that are euthanized each year are pit bulls. As a result, they are harder to get adopted because many people of wary of them. They are often referred to as vicious, but they once had a good reputation.

They were actually the closest thing America had to a national dog and were companions to Theodore Roosevelt, Hellen Keller, and Laura Ingalls Wilder. Pit bulls are innocent victims of the worldwide epidemic of breed discrimination.
Betty White
There are several famous people that are known to help animal shelters and have adopted from one. Betty White was devoted to animals and even created the #BettyWhiteChallenge.

The challenge was a social media movement that called for five-dollar donations to local animal rescues and nonprofits in her memory. She supported several animal-related nonprofits throughout her career. In addition, Betty personally adopted several rescued animals.
The Ian Somerhalder Foundation
Ian Somerhalder has a love for animals and even founded The Ian Somerhalder Foundation. The foundation promotes preserving the environment, adopting, spaying/neutering clinics, preserving animal habitats, and offers grants to animal welfare organizations.

He said he started the foundation "because, for Nikki and me, ISF means being a part of a family who refuses to allow the degradation of our environment or the mistreatment of animals to go on any longer. It means standing together, empowering one another so we can go sustainably into our future." In addition, he and his wife have adopted several animals.
Patrick Stewart Partnered With The American Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty to Animals
Patrick Stewart is an actor who fostered a pit bull named Ginger in 2017, and he said it changed his life. It inspired him to stand up for pit bulls as a breed, and he has since partnered with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

He fosters dogs and promotes them on his Facebook page, trying to help them find their forever homes. He stated that Ginger brought a quality of patience and tolerance, and fun into his life.
Kristen Bell
Kristen Bell is another famous person that has adopted several rescue animals. She and her husband, Dax Shepard, have stated that they see their pets as their children.

Kristin is passionate about helping shelter animals find loving forever homes. In addition, she has fostered many dogs and is a supporter of the ASPCA. Kristen said, "They're just kids that I didn't birth."
An Inspiring Story From Angelina Jolie's 3 Kids
An inspiring story was shared via Instagram by Sarah Ramos. She said that she saw Angelina Jolie with her ten-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox and twelve-year-old Shiloh at a local park in L.A.

They were selling organic dog treats to help L.A.-based nonprofit animal rescue organization Hope for Paws. Jolie said, "The kids wanted to support Hope for Paws, and they made the treats themselves."
Tony Robbins Matching Campaign
Eldad and another team member from Hope for Paws were invited by Sage and Tony Robbins to attend their Business Mastery Seminar.

They learned how to do things better for Hope for Paws, and Tony even offered to match fifty thousand dollars of their donations. He helped them reach their goal and made it possible to rescue many more animals.
Donate Your Birthday
Another fun thing that Hope for Paws does is where you can donate your birthday. It's a fundraiser that Facebook created that allows people to dedicate a birthday to helping rescue animals.

Basically, you have your friends and family donate to the organization instead of buying you gifts or anything. You can also donate to any other life event.
Lucky Leash Of Hope
Lucky Leash of Hope has helped save thousands of animals. It works by you purchasing a Lucky Leash of Hope for all of your furry friends, and the money from them goes to Hope for Paws.

It comes in three sizes to fit all dogs. One hundred percent of profits from the leashes are used to help them reach and save more animals.
Tilt
Tilt is another dog that was rescued by Hope for Paws. He was saved from a bad shelter that he had been at for two years. They have said he is a sweet boy and a volunteer favorite.

Tilt is an Am Staff Terrier mix and is a lovable dog. He has been at The Little Red Dog Shelter for two years, and the volunteers are stumped on why he hasn't been adopted yet.
Humane Society International
The Humane Society is a world leader and works to ensure a better future for animals. They are working to save more than one hundred million animals from suffering in labs all over the world. In addition, they work to end animal sports like bullfighting and racing and fight for better treatment of farm animals.

They are also supporters of laws for the protection of comfort animals. The Humane Society has offices all over the world and supports programs in many countries.
Best Friends Save Them All
The Best Friends Organization is a leader in the no-kill movement and works in five U.S. regions. The program is committed to helping homeless pets.

In addition, they focus on saving lives through spay/neuter programs, pet adoption, and other community support programs. It is a nonprofit organization, and it offers long-term sanctuary care for animals that can't be rehomed.
John Travolta Adopted A Puppy That Jamie Lee Curtis Introduced At The 2022 Oscars
A really neat story involved Jamie Lee Curtis, John Travolta, and a precious puppy. Jamie Lee Curtis held and introduced the puppy at the 2022 Oscars while she honored Betty White. She said, "The greatest gift you could give Betty White is to open your heart and your home and adopt a rescue dog just like Mac N Cheese from Paw Works."

The very next day, John Travolta and his son Ben adopted Mac N Cheese. The story behind the puppy is that she and her siblings were dumped at Avenal Shelter in California. Mac N Cheese was the only one that didn't get adopted right away. During the show, Travolta held the puppy for thirty minutes and fell in love with her.
Ariana Grande Has Adopted 10
Ariana Grande has been very vocal about her love of animals and has been a part of several philanthropic initiatives. She even partnered with BarkBox and brought adoptable dogs to shows on her Honeymoon Tour and paid the adoption fees.

She even opened up her own animal shelter in 2020 in L.A. called Orange Twins Rescue. In addition, she has adopted several dogs herself.
Yara Found Her Forever Home
Finally, ending with awesome news about Yara. Sweet Yara was finally adopted after spending two years at The Little Red Dog shelter. She was adopted by the Andrews family and has adjusted very well.

She is a playful, happy dog and is getting all of the love that she deserves. The family has posted a few updates on Facebook about Yara since adopting her.